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Our Blog has moved!https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2017/06/02/our-blog-has-moved/
https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2017/06/02/our-blog-has-moved/#respondFri, 02 Jun 2017 22:12:14 +0000http://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/?p=871]]>Our Blog has moved to a new website! You can find it at SilverSpiralcreations.com/blog

We have a whole year’s worth of posts there so please check them out! thanks

Filed under: Uncategorized]]>https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2017/06/02/our-blog-has-moved/feed/0lpatnode1Is HandCrafted Jewelry Becoming Obsolete?https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2016/04/21/is-handcrafted-jewelry-becoming-obsolete/
https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2016/04/21/is-handcrafted-jewelry-becoming-obsolete/#commentsThu, 21 Apr 2016 21:30:31 +0000http://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/?p=782Continue reading Is HandCrafted Jewelry Becoming Obsolete?]]>With Computer Assisted Design and 3D Printers–Jewelry Design is changing—does this mean that jewelers can no longer make a living by creating their jewelry by hand? Does this mean the end of brick and mortar jewelry stores? The end of “Handcrafted?”Handcrafted jewelry–a dying art?

In March, I attended the MJSA conference, which is a jewelry manufacturing show, where vendors demonstrate the latest and greatest gadgets to make your jewelry. They also had on site workshops and demonstrations. It was here where a well regarded guru presenter told us that unless we learned CAD-CAM, we would never be able to make a living being a bench jeweler. (CAD-CAM is a jewelry design computer program that offers 3-D imaging in a very realistic form that looks like a photo of a real piece of jewelry).

He also said we would also need to invest in a 3-D Printer to create wax designs to send off to have cast–you can make one or thousands of the same design. Wait—What????

Not only that, but he said jewelry stores will be obsolete. Soon, most will buy jewelry on line or in big box stores.

WOW! And the person sitting next to me confirmed that she closed her jewelry store in NY and she showed me her 3D designs–she sells her jewelry online in this way. They looked like real pieces–and she said they don’t even exist—yet. A customer would order it, and she would promise it to them in 3 weeks–it gets sent off to be cast, and a jeweler would then finish it off (polish, set the stone, and so forth).

Wow again! I sat there, very deflated. I don’t want to do CAD CAM. I don’t want to send a computer design, I want to hand design something–to create a piece of art by hand. I want to take the sheet of metal, and saw, hammer, shape, form, file, sand, solder and manipulate the hell out of it, to come up with something different.

I can’t put my soul into a computer program.

I can’t put my soul into a computer program. I can only put my soul in a piece that I worked from beginning to end. I don’t want to make a thousand of the same thing.

My pieces are far from perfect–they are not machined–but they have character.

And then the lightbulb

came on over my head…My customer doesn’t want one of a thousandeither. My customer wants to be independent, wants to express, is organic, natural, wants art, and will search for the piece that matches her/his personality, mood and sense of style.

Maybe I will never be wealthy as a solo bench jeweler. Maybe I will be among a shrinking group of jewelry artists who make pieces from beginning to end. But what I will have is an artistic soul that will remain intact, and customers who treasure their pieces for what they are….

This is a statement I have heard more than once in recent times. I wonder what that really means. Does it mean that if you have too much to do that you organize better? Or does it mean that as we fill up our lives with activities, chores and obligations that we are in a survival mode?

So much to do, So little time!

How about the other side of this coin? If we don’t have enough going on, do we become complacent or lazy?

I have to say that I create my own “busy-ness.” So many times I get asked to do things and I rarely say no. I often hear my colleagues and friends express the same sentiment. I am sure this happens to many of you.

I think that on some level, we are flattered that someone thinks enough of our competence to ask us to participate, and therefore we must “accept” the charge. We look at the calendar, see that the date is free and say “sure, I can do that!” But when we actually have to complete the task, we ask ourselves “what was I thinking? I should never have said I would do that.”

I guess I am not the superhero I think I am!

And then it comes time to meet your own duties and goals. Often, when you are busy, you let some of these things go, because after all, you are not a superhero. To the outside world, you look like you are amazing, because you have met all of your external obligations which are all of those things you said “yes” to and had to get done.

I guess I am not the superhero I would like think I am. I have let my blog be one of those goals that fell through the cracks. Whenever I had a moment to write, I felt paralyzed. It was almost as if I was being defiant, as if the dialog I was having with myself was “I have been too busy, and just for that, I am NOT going to write!” Some other personal goals have fallen short as well, including my own Jewelry Business.

It was almost as if I was being defiant, as if the dialog I was having with myself was “I have had too much to do, and just for that, I am NOT going to write”.

Are you one of those busy people who “over-accept?” I sure would like to get better at saying “no” to those things that make my life crazy. All of us “busy” folks need to re-assess what is truly important to do.

All of this talk about decluttering our spaces—what about decluttering our lives?

Let me know what you think. How will you “Declutter” your life? Now back to making my jewelry!

Lynne Patnode is the owner of Silverspiral Creations whose mission is to create wearable jewelry art from nature’s most beautiful stones. She also creates fused glass jewelry art inspired by nature.

For centuries, many cultures believed hiding gemstones in garments or against your chest would provide health and protection.

Gemstones are from deep in the earth, many believe they hold answers to life’s questions that we must face.

Gemstone colors represent how a person is perceived–strong, weak, emotional, wealthy or poor

So How Do Gemstones Relate to Personality?

Many people believe that the stones you choose relate to your personality.

I think the best way to answer this question is by looking at the “meaning” attributed to each gemstone, and extract your personality traits based on the stones you are drawn to. There are many such charts available online, and from what I can tell, most are in agreement with each other. I have an open mind about the metaphysical properties and meanings of these gemstones, and when I compare the stones that I choose with the properties, I find them to be pretty close to my feelings about who I am. Here are some charts you can look at, for you to decide for yourself!

I would love to hear from you! Do you have a personality that relates to a gemstone? If so, which one! For example, one of my favorite gemstones is fluorite (as pictured above) and I am a person who is always seeking peace (I have always been a peace maker). Fluorite is a stone that helps with inner peace.

So, do you think this is a stretch? Or do you believe in this? I would love to know!

Filed under: Uncategorized]]>https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2016/03/06/what-is-your-gemstone-personality/feed/2lpatnode1iStock_000052623198_MediumFlourite1.jpgEnvy or Desire? What is it Really?https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2016/02/27/envy-or-desire-what-is-it-really/
https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2016/02/27/envy-or-desire-what-is-it-really/#commentsSat, 27 Feb 2016 16:37:00 +0000http://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/?p=540Continue reading Envy or Desire? What is it Really?]]>The other day, I was speaking with a co-worker (I work in a school system during the day), and we got on to the subject of envy. You see, she is one of those people everyone admires. She can be a powerhouse and I envy her for her ability to keep her home beautiful, and for her amazing garden designs (she is a master gardener). Sometimes, the envy is so strong, I start to feel bad about myself.
New England Garden

Now my home is what you would call “lived in”, and my gardens have some weeds–only some of the hardiest flowers survive. Don’t get me wrong, my house is presentable, it is just not the presentation that her home is.

My friend finds this to be natural for her, and she did not seem to understand why this would be difficult for me.

On the other hand, she told me that she envied me! She wished she could make jewelry out of stones and glass (she is one of my best customers) and would give anything to have that ability—and she told me that she feels bad about herself for not having that ability.

I have always believed that you can do what ever you desire! I couldn’t understand why she couldn’t take some metals classes and learn about jewelry making.

Well–of course she could take classes and learn to make jewelry. And I could take classes and become a master gardener, if these are things we really DESIRED… So what is Desire????

The question is-do we use the word envy and desire interchangeably? Is it enough to desire something or do we really need PASSION to go along with the desire.

I firmly believe that we are wired to do different and wonderful things. I also believe we develop strong passions that drive us. In the case of my co-worker, she is driven and beautifully creative in designing her gardens and the interior decorating of her home. Her creativity is a passion and feeds her need and desire to have a beautiful environment which she tells me is very important to her. Her gardens are a work of art and nature.

My passion has always been to make and build with my hands, and I have a deep love and respect for what nature creates. My desire is to create beauty that people can take and enjoy as they so choose. My creativity centers on the building of something beautiful–also works of art and nature, yet so very different from home and gardens. Plus, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to do all of those things that others do.

So—How are YOU Wired? And do you envy others for what they can do and you can’t? Do you have the passion to do something beautiful? If so, what is it? Have you ever envied someone, and then followed that person’s passion? Did you get passionate about something from envy?

And what role does money play in envy or desire? Does money help with the drive to try something new? Would money make a difference in the passions you would follow? Would you have less envy with more money? Or do you envy those who live a simple life with less? I would love to hear from you about what your thoughts are! I welcome your comments

Also–Silverspiral Creations is starting a newsletter with lots of goodies coming your way! Sign up for the March Newsletter by March 1st and receive a 40% off coupon for any single jewelry item from my Etsy Shop! EACH MONTH, you will get a free PDF download–in March it will be 10 Tips–Caring for your Art Jewelry. After March it is gone–and a new surprise will come your way.

Filed under: Uncategorized]]>https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2016/02/27/envy-or-desire-what-is-it-really/feed/6lpatnode1Single Family Cape Cod HomeRoseQ1Coming SoonDo You Choose the Stone or Does the Stone Choose You?https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2016/02/18/do-you-choose-the-stone-or-does-the-stone-choose-you/
https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2016/02/18/do-you-choose-the-stone-or-does-the-stone-choose-you/#commentsThu, 18 Feb 2016 18:15:44 +0000http://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/?p=503Continue reading Do You Choose the Stone or Does the Stone Choose You?]]>How to Choose the Right Stone or Crystal for You!

So you have decided you love stones–perhaps you love some of the colors and patterns and see them as works of art. Or maybe you love the crystals, and the possibilities they have to help you with your mood, to heal, or to feel good. Some of you might just love to hold and feel a tumbled stone, experiencing the warmth or coolness of that stone.

Throughout time, many cultures have used stones in many ways to enhance their lives, through home décor (stone countertops), art (sculpture), Medical healing (metaphysical) and for jewelry (from beads, to cabochons, to faceted stones).

Some folks love to collect them–learning all the names of the different stones, and a fascination on how they are created by Mother Nature.

In today’s blog, I want to concentrate on the fun reasons you might use stones, and how you would choose a stone for your everyday lives.

I did some research into this, and found many authors who suggest that the best way for you to find out what stones you are drawn to and will work for you is to go to a rock shop, and look around. What grabs you? Are you drawn to the colors of the stones? The feel, the textures, the sparkles, the patterns?

Do some stones “call you?” Do you somehow feel connected to the earth when you see or hold a particular stone? Do you prefer the rough natural stone, or one that has been cut and faceted by a lapidary artist?

Most of us will never know why we like certain stones, or why we are drawn to them. If you talk to the New Age Healers, Metaphysical properties are very real and there is a strong belief that stones will help in healing from physical and emotional illness. If this is of interest to you, there are many guides available on the internet from respected sources to help you. I am listing some of these links at the end of this post.

If you are drawn to stones because they are beautiful, then you might consider looking at them as pieces of art, either to be sculpted, or to place around your home as a way to feel grounded and part of nature. Or perhaps you are drawn to the possibility that stones can be worn as an accessory to your wardrobe–as another way of connecting with nature.

There is something about a natural stone that just can’t be duplicated. Perhaps there is a “vibration” as some suggest that reaches out to us humans. I don’t know–but I DO know that I have always been drawn to their lovliness, and fascinated by the fact that such beauty exists in nature. And unlike plants, stones don’t die, and almost never go bad. The fact that they are older than most of us can ever know, and will live on long after we pass is also an indication of how powerful they are…Just think about it!

So how do you select your perfect stone? One author, Phyllis Galde, in her book Crystal Healing, offers one suggestion that resonates with me:

“Pick a stone by attraction, by being drawn to touch it, and then hold it in the left hand loosely. Let it rest against the palm chakra and notice the impressions, colors, sounds and mood feelings that accompany the stone. No two crystals are the same. They are like snowflakes. Each crystal has its own particular vibration, and each will resonate differently. Look for one that will resonate with your being—regardless of size, shape, color, or jeweler’s quality. It’s the intuitive impression which is important.”

You see-I have 2 lives…By day a music therapist in a school system, and by night I am a jewelry artist-

So what does this work-play mean? It means spending another day in the studio designing and creating more art. And for most people, it sounds like a dream–to have the ability to make and create things whenever they want. To have NO supervisor or boss that dictates how your day will go, to not have a critique of your work, to decide what your hours will be and how much time you will spend during your lunch hour. Sounds great–right?

It would be my fantasy to live this way–to be an artist and to live life the way I want to. Unfortunately–it is only a fantasy for most artists. Very few can command the money for their art that to make a living, and must work at other steady jobs in order to be able to create.

I am fortunate in that I have a creative full time job as a music therapist, another way in which I am able to express myself through art. And I love my job–helping others use music as a way to express themselves, to learn, to heal, and to develop a sense of self. But I am also passionately drawn to the solitude of creating my own piece, with my own ideas.

Working in a school system does allow me the schedule to create jewelry art on the “off” hours, and I use every opportunity to create that is available to me. This means nights and weekends where I am not out socializing, spending time with neighbors and friends.

I believe this is the story of many artists. There are so many creative souls out there–yet our society says art is not a priority–it is an “extra” a “frill” and that one must make a living elsewhere. That art is play, and play is not work.

Well–Can you imagine a life without the beauty of art? Music, paintings, sculpture, jewelry, metalwork, textiles, architecture, graphic design–these are all arts! What is the value of this? And how many artists have given up their social lives to create for us?

Jewelry is such an intimate object, and a very personal experience. I find that when I see a piece of jewelry for sale, it either “calls me” or it doesn’t. As a jewelry artist and seller, I notice that many times, someone will come by my booth, pick up a piece of jewelry, try it on, put it back down and sometimes move on. They return later, try it on again–look at a few other items, come back try it on again–and ultimately purchase it. They often tell me they just “have to buy it” –Has this happened to you?

What about online? If you are browsing through jewelry sites or Etsy, do you favorite certain items that call you? Do you return later to buy that item that calls you the loudest?

So what is the psychology behind this–and why do YOU wear jewelry? I did a little research, and found one that really brought it home for me:

Jewelry is created and designed for the human body.

The optimal position to view jewelry is while it is worn on another person’s body.

Jewelry is most valued by artists and patrons for its ability to bridge two people.

Wearing jewelry provides the moment, the object and the location for the activation of jewelry’s meaning.

Some collectors strengthen their relationships to artists by continuing to support and collect their jewelry.

“The wearer presents studio art jewelry in the public sphere, giving many viewers their first opportunity to engage with the work of art. In addition to their immediate response to the object and the intent of the artist, the viewer receives an unending stream of non-verbal communication from the wearer. Jewelry completes the necessary triangulation between the artist and viewer through the body and actions of the wearer.”***

So what is it for you? Do you wear jewelry to stand out? To connect with an artist? To fit in with a trend? To create a look to go with a piece of an outfit? To connect with Nature? To create meaning? For metaphysical or healing reasons? To show status or wealth?

I think we might choose our jewelry for many different reasons…and sometimes we change based on the stages and circumstances of our lives. Whatever the reason, jewelry is an intimate decision–after all, we wear it on our own bodies–other than clothing–what can be more intimate than that?

Filed under: Uncategorized]]>https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2016/01/31/jewelry-is-so-important-why/feed/5lpatnode1moonscene2newagate2dendriticdThe New Obsession-Handmadehttps://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/the-new-obsession-handmade/
https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/the-new-obsession-handmade/#commentsWed, 30 Dec 2015 15:28:47 +0000http://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/?p=316Continue reading The New Obsession-Handmade]]>So what is this new obsession to have things handmade? You see it everywhere. Amazon.com has a new “Handmade” section-supposedly to compete with Etsy.com–but I see handmade popping up everywhere. Martha Stewart has a handmade initiative, as do many other major retailers–even Ebay is trying to hop on to this bandwagon.

So what is driving this trend? After researching a little, I found out that customers want to connect with the maker of items. This gives their new acquisition more meaning, something which we all seek.

Another driver for this trend is the human desire to be individual–we have been told over the years that we need to have the latest designer this and that–but after high school–do we really want to look like everyone else?

There is also the need for us as humans to have an impact on our society, and buying from local, handmade artisans helps to support the community, contributing to art and beauty in our society. Buying handmade also allows us to make statements about our own beauty–not physically, but spiritually–whether it is buying furniture for your home, accessories for your room, jewelry for yourself or gifts for family and friends.

There is also a need to return to our roots–we are nostalgic for things that were made by our ancestors, grandparents and parents–we want to replicate this by purchasing handmade.

This has become a trend for gift giving–people want their gifts to be memorable, not always utilitarian, or something that can be easily found in stores.

So there you have it–a willingness to pay a little more for all of these wonderful benefits! Do you buy handmade?

Filed under: Uncategorized]]>https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/the-new-obsession-handmade/feed/2lpatnode1Etsy-Febmoonstars2IMG_2180The 800 Pound Gorilla, Let’s Get Him Out of the Room!https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2015/11/28/the-800-pound-gorilla-lets-get-him-out-of-the-room/
https://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/2015/11/28/the-800-pound-gorilla-lets-get-him-out-of-the-room/#respondSat, 28 Nov 2015 22:36:48 +0000http://silverspiralcreations.wordpress.com/?p=282Continue reading The 800 Pound Gorilla, Let’s Get Him Out of the Room!]]>Hello again. This is Part II of “How to Talk to an Artist,” a blog series about wanting a special something custom made just for you. Last time, we spoke about having the confidence to approach an artist to ask for a custom order. Today, let’s talk about making that order!

Since I am an artisan jeweler, I am going to use jewelry as my example, but this would be true if you wanted to order any custom art, painting, sculpture, glasswork, pottery, woodwork, any art!

So what is stopping you from asking for that order? Well there is an 800 pound Gorilla in the room, and that is price. It seems to be the biggest hurdle for both customer and artist to jump through, and often stops an order before it begins.

My thought on this, from an artist’s point of view, is to discuss this first and foremost, even before hearing what the custom order is going to be. Most often, a customer has an idea of what s/he is willing to spend on something for themselves. For example, I got an order the other day, where the customer says, I really always wanted a gold bracelet, a big cuff that has a flared shape, and is about 2 inches wide, with a pretty wavy pattern on it. So I asked her, what did she think it would cost for something like that, and she answered that she thought that would be about $200. Unfortunately, if that were to be made with gold, the material alone would have been approximately $1400 with gold prices the way they are. But instead of discouraging her, I mentioned some ways she could get the look she wanted, using gold-filled metal or gold plated metal, and perhaps she could be happy if the cuff were 1.5 inches to 1.75 inches wide. I would make a prototype in brass, and she could see, or maybe she would like it in brass, which is a gold tone. But because price was out in the open, it became fun to discuss the possibilities! She made an order, and ended up paying $225.00 for a gold-filled metal bracelet that was 1.5 inches wide, and she couldn’t be happier.

In other words, we found a way to fulfill her desire! And it wasn’t the least bit uncomfortable!

What do you think about this? From either an artist’s point of view or from a customer’s perspective? Are you willing to talk about pricing first? Let me know in the comments section what you think!